The Legacy of Zainab Scholarship

About the Scholarship

The Legacy of Zainab Scholarship Fund was established to provide academic scholarships to students pursuing undergraduate and post-graduate education at an accredited academic institution in the Metro Detroit area. It is open to all full-time college students enrolled in a degree program, as well as prospective freshmen.

The fund offers one $1000 scholarship and one $500 scholarship to college students and prospective freshmen.

Eligibility

To be eligible* to apply for the scholarship, you must be:

• A high school senior planning to attend an accredited college or university in the state of Michigan as a full-time student, or
• Currently attending an accredited college or university in the state of Michigan as a full-time student.

Deadline

All submissions must be received by September 9, 2022.

Contest

Please answer one of the following two topics:

1.  The caravan of Imam Hussain (AS) was besieged, and they endured hunger, thirst, and the scorching desert sun for days. The men, and even some children, were slaughtered in front of their families. And after all of this, the women and children, along withImam Zayn al-Abideen (AS), were taken captive, beaten, cursed, and imprisoned.Yet, these unimaginable struggles only strengthened their connection with and love for Allah (SWT).Neither the companions of Imam Hussain (AS) nor his family questioned the hardships they endured in Karbala. Rather, they understood that those trials served a divine purpose.

Recall a time in your life in which you experienced a significantly difficult struggle, trial, or tribulation. Describe how that experience led you towards Allah (SWT) and helped you to establish a stronger and more loving relationship with Him. Additionally discuss how Imam Hussain (AS), his family, and/or his companions have impacted your own journey to Allah (SWT). When connecting the story of Karbala and Imam Hussain(AS) to your own story, please specify the individual(s) and/or event(s)that played the most significant role in your journey.

2. After the massacre ofImam Hussain (AS), his family, and his companions, Sayyida Zaynab (AS) was asked, “How did you find the wayAllah treated your brother and family?” Sayyida Zaynab (AS)responded, “I saw nothing but beauty.”After everything that she witnessed and experienced, the bloodshed, the burning tents, the captivity, and everything in between —Sayyida Zaynab (AS) saw only beauty in the events that Allah (SWT) allowed to transpire. She saw the bigger picture and understood the true meaning of      divine love.

Non-believers like to use the pain and suffering of mankind as an excuse for their disbelief in God. Zaynab (AS), Imam Hussain(AS), and the companions, however, were able to see such struggle and hardship as a blessing fromAllah (SWT). How can the events that transpired in Karbala be described as“beauty” or “love”?In your response, please discuss how a person can reach a level wherein he or she can see beauty in the most difficult moments, for the sake of Allah (SWT). Discuss the ideological and practical obstacles that we face in today's society when attempting to reach the afore mentioned level of divine love and understanding, and explain how we can overcome those obstacles.

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Paper Guidelines

• Submit as a Microsoft Word Document with 1-inch margins
• Include a title and abstract that briefly summarizes the content of the essay
• Paper must be between 1,000 to 2,000 words
• Lines must be 1.5 spaced and typed in 12-point Times New Roman font
• Cite all quotations and sources using footnotes throughout the essay
• Any additional sources must be cited in a “References” sections at the end of the paper
• All footnotes and references must be cited according the APA format (footnotes must include page numbers)
• All transliterations from Arabic must be in accordance with the library of congress transliteration system

http://archimedes.fas.harvard.edu/mdh/lcromanization.pdf

Submission Requirements

Identification: On the cover page of the essay paper, participant must provide:

• Full Name
• High School Name (if high school student)
• College/University currently attending or planning to attend
• Expected Graduation Date
• Major
• Contact Information (Address, Phone Number, and Email Address)

Proof of Enrollment: Participant must provide a PDF copy of current high school or college transcript.

Judgement Criteria

• Adherence to the submission guidelines
• Adequately addressing the essay topic and demonstrating the ability to articulate and support a point of view as demonstrated by essay content and creativity
• Research of the topic (including citations of published works)
• Usage of correct grammar, punctuation, and language
• Accrediting all information to their sources
• All content being that of the applicant unless properly accredited to its source (any essay with plagiarized content will be immediately disqualified)

All required documents must be submitted by email to: scholarship@ashuraproject.org

*The Ashura Project's board members and members of the Education and Publication Team are not eligible for participation.